On split vote commission keeps option of exceeding revenue neutral tax rate

By Charlene Sims, info@linncountyjournal.com

MOUND CITY – After several workshops with their contracted budget consultant  Scot Loyd, Linn County Commissioners Jason Hightower and Alison Hamilton voted on Monday, July 14, to exceed revenue neutral but not by more than 3.15 mills and to continue to work on the budget prior to the hearing. Commission Chair Jim Johnson, who was attending by phone, voted against the motiont.

The revenue neutral hearing will be on Monday, Aug. 25 at 11 a.m.

Before voting, County Counselor Jacklyn Paletta verified with Loyd, who was attending by zoom, that the 3.15 mills would be sufficient to have the requisite amount of cash and to cover any remaining changes the commissioners decided to make before the revenue neutral hearing. 

Loyd said, “I am comfortable with the 3.15. Yes, it would keep extra cash.”

Loyd told the commissioners that the county has sufficient reserve funds. It helps keep the cash where it needs to be to move forward.

Since the amount in the motion can only be decreased not increased before the meeting, Hamilton had suggested that four mills be in the motion so that while she did not think that they would need that much, it would give them some flexibility to work through the road and bridge and sheriff’s budgets. 

Hightower said that he thought the 3.15 mills would cover any changes.

For the past few years, the commission has used reserve accounts and income from taking out-of-county prisoners in the new county jail to avoid going about the revenue neutral rate.

Last week County Clerk Danielle Souza sent out a survey, apparently prompted by county commissioners, that wanted to know what benefit they would give up so the county could meet the revenue neutral rate for 2026. The options were to give up a raise, give up a health savings account, or forego health insurance. Employee reaction was swift with several people saying they would quit if any of those options went into effect.